Using Self-Regulation Assessment to Explore Associations between Self-Regulation, Participation and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Rehabilitation Population.

Objective: Self-regulation, participation and health-related quality of life are important rehabilitation outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore associations between these outcomes in a multi-diagnostic and heterogenic group of former rehabilitation patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey used the Self-Regulation Assessment (SeRA), Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-participation (USERParticipation) and the Patient-Reported-Outcome-Measurement-System (PROMIS) ability and PROMIS satisfaction with participation in social roles, and the EuroQol-5L-5D and PROMIS-10 Global Health.

To What Extent is Walking Ability Associated with Participation in People after Stroke?

Objectives: This study aims to 1) identify the relation between walking ability and participation after stroke and 2) explore whether change in walking ability is associated with change in participation over time in community living-people after stroke.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two people after stroke were assessed at baseline and after a 6-week gait training intervention. People were included between two weeks and six months after stroke.

Effect of Virtual Reality Gait Training on Participation in Survivors of Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: After stroke, people experience difficulties with walking that lead to restrictions in participation in daily life. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of virtual reality gait training (VRT) compared to non-virtual reality gait training (non-VRT) on participation in community-living people after stroke.

Methods: In this assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel groups, people were included between 2 weeks and 6 months after stroke and randomly assigned to the VRT group or non-VRT group.

Perceived barriers and facilitators for gait-related participation in people after stroke: From a patients' perspective.

: An important focus of post-stroke physical therapy is to improve walking and walking capacity. However, many people after stroke experience difficulties with gait-related participation, which includes more than walking capacity alone. Gait-related participation involves walking with a participation goal and requires to deal with changes in the environment during walking and perform dual tasks, for example.

Virtual reality gait training versus non-virtual reality gait training for improving participation in subacute stroke survivors: study protocol of the ViRTAS randomized controlled trial.

Background: A stroke often results in gait impairments, activity limitations and restricted participation in daily life. Virtual reality (VR) has shown to be beneficial for improving gait ability after stroke. Previous studies regarding VR focused mainly on improvements in functional outcomes.

Effect of Virtual Reality Training on Balance and Gait Ability in Patients With Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) training is considered to be a promising novel therapy for balance and gait recovery in patients with stroke.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review with meta-analysis to investigate whether balance or gait training using VR is more effective than conventional balance or gait training in patients with stroke.

Data Sources: A literature search was carried out in the databases PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library up to December 1, 2015.

Unrecognised psychopathology in patients with difficult asthma: major mental and personality disorders.

Background: Difficult asthma is a severe subgroup of asthma in which the main feature is uncontrollability of symptoms. Psychopathology is suggested to be prominent in patients with difficult asthma and considered important in its treatment; however, the evidence is scarce.

Aims: To describe psychopathology in difficult asthma, both major mental and personality disorders, based on diagnostic interviews.

Psychopathology in difficult asthma.

Objective: Within the asthma population, difficult asthma (DA) is a severe condition in which patients present with frequent exacerbations, hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The identification and treatment of psychopathology is included in the management of DA. Psychopathology is supposed to predispose patients to DA or vice versa; psychopathology may develop as a consequence of DA.

[Give general practitioner a central role during the chronic phase after stroke].

In February 2014 an update of a systematic review was published on the effectiveness of physical therapy after stroke. This review shows that the quality and quantity of the scientific basis for physical therapy interventions in rehabilitation after stroke have increased significantly, which confirms the relevance of physical therapy in multidisciplinary stroke care. As far as physical therapy is concerned, implementation of the results of this review and organisation or reorganisation of care so that it is accessible to all patients is a major challenge.

Tolerance and effectiveness of a new dynamic hand-wrist orthosis in chronic stroke patients.

Purpose: To evaluate tolerance of a new dynamic hand-wrist orthosis and effectiveness on the prevention of progressive wrist contracture and spasticity after stroke.

Method: Chronic stroke patients (N = 6) with upper limb spasticity, who had not been able to endure a static orthosis, were provided with a custom-made dynamic orthosis. Tolerance of the orthosis was evaluated by the daily wearing time, and self-reported pain and spasticity.

Evaluation of change in fatigue, self-efficacy and health-related quality of life, after a group educational intervention programme for persons with neuromuscular diseases or multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Purpose: An intervention for persons with neuromuscular diseases (NMD) or multiple sclerosis (MS) who experienced severe fatigue was developed which aimed at educating participants in maintaining a balance between capacity and load in their daily activities. This pilot study evaluated the results of this intervention.

Methods: Persons with NMD or MS who experienced severe fatigue were included.

Short-term effects and long-term use of a hybrid orthosis for neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the upper extremity in patients after chronic stroke.

Objective: To associate the short-term effects of the Handmaster orthosis on disabling symptoms of the affected upper extremity with long-term Handmaster orthosis use after stroke.

Design: Historic cohort study.

Patients: Patients with chronic stroke.

Acute deterioration of bulbar function after botulinum toxin treatment for sialorrhoea in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Transcutaneous botulinum toxin injection in the salivary glands was introduced in 2000 as a new treatment for sialorrhoea in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We describe an ALS patient who developed serious complications of botulinum toxin treatment for sialorrhoea, and we review the relevant literature. A 64-yr-old woman with bulbar ALS for 6 mos was treated for disabling sialorrhoea.

Back to basics in diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy with the tuning fork!

Objective: Several national and international scoring systems are used to diagnose diabetic polyneuropathy (PNP). The variety in these scores and the lack of data on validity and predictive value has led to a comparison and validation of the scores with clinical standards for PNP to determine the most powerful measurement for screening.

Research Design And Methods: Three matched groups were selected: 24 diabetic patients with neuropathic foot ulcers, 24 diabetic patients without PNP or ulcers, and 21 control subjects without diabetes.

Clinical diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy with the diabetic neuropathy symptom and diabetic neuropathy examination scores.

Objective: To evaluate the discriminative power of the Diabetic Neuropathy Symptom (DNS) and Diabetic Neuropathy Examination (DNE) scores for diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy (PNP), as well as their relation with cardiovascular autonomic function testing (cAFT) and electro-diagnostic studies (EDS).

Research Design And Methods: Three groups (matched for age and sex) were selected: 24 diabetic patients with neuropathic foot ulcers (DU), 24 diabetic patients without clinical neuropathy or ulcers (DC), and 21 control subjects without diabetes (C). In all participants, the DNS and DNE scores were assessed and cAFT (heart rate variability [HRV], baroreflex sensitivity [BRS]), and EDS were performed (Nerve Conduction Sum [NCS] score; muscle fiber conduction velocity: fastest/slowest ratio [F/S ratio]).